true computer fast

i am sad to say that i did not update the blog any more while in peru. our time was very limited. it often came down to either a shower, quiet time, or the blog. when we arrived in lima, we never came close to a computer. 

 so, i am writing this from my parents' house. we returned friday. it is memorial day, monday. after being out of the country for two weeks, i am extra grateful on this memorial day. i will make this simple for everyone. this will be about last weekend and last monday. the next post covers the rest of the trip. 


last saturday, we had the opportunity to sleep in. it was nice after getting up at 6 a.m. all week. our team took a 45-minute bumpy ride up a mountain. beside rolling farmland, we took what this hiker would call a cakewalk. ample opportunity for photos was taken advantage of. our arrival at the top brought more photos, but especially a sweet solo time to reflect on the view of 18,000-foot snowcapped peaks and a huge valley of farms and cities set before us. that afternoon, we helped out with kids' club. the established base in huancayo hosts local childeren for games, dancing, and teaching every saturday afternoon. 


that evening, as well as sunday morning and evening, we visited a local church. we shared words of encouragement, stories, and testimonies with the peruvian youth. it is so incredible to know that what we have learned and experienced is relevant and applicable to their lives. we also sang worship songs in espanol. after a lunch feast at a local pollo restaurant, we explored the market in huancayo. 


monday, we sadly left the missionaries and took the eight-hour bus ride back to Lima. monday evening was quite an unforgettable experience- fifteen people, one bathroom. we set up a shower schedule in mayra's dad's house and got very into the game of mafia with our team!

Did You Know Our Blog Title Is Actually A Song Title? United Pursuit Band, "Climb".

It is definitely not your typical Friday night in America right now in Huancayo, Peru. I am typing this as I listen to voices shouting downstairs and take in the aroma of dinner cooking right below me. It is seven in the evening in the month of May, yet a pitch black sky glares through the glass windows of Mr. Drum´s office.

(hiatus- come back saturday morning to finish)

thursday and friday ran the same schedule-wise as tuesday and wednesday did. we had an INCREDIBLE week. the team absolutely loved the kids that we worked with at the english camp, and they loved us just as much, if not more. many tears were shed as we debriefed around our family circle at night. we also returned to the orphanage thursday, another favorite moment. yesterday morning, we taught the estudiantes the choreography to the song "Joyful Noise", Jesus hip hop music by Flame and LeCrae. This dance is very popular in Athens at Phi Slam parties and football tailgates. I cannot wait to show all of our Athens friends the dance on video! it has been a truly splendid week with all of the kiddies and with each other. the Lord is really revealing a lot to each of us personally.

Yesterday afternoon, we went on a prayer walk around the city of Huancayo. It was then I realized that we were staying in one of the more affluent and safer areas of the city. We passed through lots of open-air markets. This was a fascinating, culture-shock scene for brunette North Americans and gringos. But it was an incredible walk, and we prayed with a Peruvian. I saw him from afar in our prayer circle by the city hall, feeling led to pray for him right then. So I did. As we were leaving, he approached us asking for money. We did not have any with us, but we prayed for him. He left with a Jesus Christo love encounter!

Last nights highlight was that we ate cow heart slices! It is just another piece of steak.

More updates coming tomorrow evening about this weekend!

#Spanglish

yesterday morning, our team lead an English camp at a school in huancayo. in latin america, kids are english -educated in school at an early age. this was no different. each of our four small groups rotated between four age ranges. the rotations covered vocab words, basic songs, games, and teachings.

in the afternoon, we divided in two groups. one went to a nearby park and read books to children. my group went to a local university and hung out with some awesome college age people! we sang, danced, and shared life with them.

yesterday evening, our wesley team was privileged to have the opportunity to discuss in-depth the history of peru. we also talked about the backgrounds of the missionaries we work with. the family we work with the most are the Drums! Around our parent´s age, they moved to Peru from Houston three years ago. They came out of the workplace to follow their calling for a new season. it is so good to be here, to encourage and hang out with missionaries, who are far from home. i am sure they love having gringos here as a support network, while we get to partner in what they are doing here! (gringos: north americans)

today has been splendid. this morning, we returned to the english camp. i am pretty sure that my small group in particular riles up the kids the most- so much noise! this afternoon has been the best part of the trip thus far, as we visited a local orphanage. i really feel like the majority of the team had a ballin time with the kids that live there. they were so hungry for new friendships. we enjoyed letting them taking pictures with our cameras, while looking at my pictures on the LCD from georgia. again, we read books together, and played some futbol.

it is our free time- six in the evening here. yet, it is almost dark outside! november in peru!

the sun is very strong. we are definitely feeling the effects of living at 11,500 feet. and our team is amazing. everyone has the best attitude, and is naturally gifted at getting along with others. we love each other so much. the missionaries have opened up their home to us- it is definitely a gringo bubble in downtown huancayo, peru!

five girls on the team speak fluent spanish, while the rest of us are picking up quickly. #funfunfun

Our Arrival

within the first 10 minutes of arriving at the ATL airport yesterday (which feels like a week ago), our adventures began. half off frapps at starbucks in the international terminal was a good way to exit usa after an interesting adventure with the self-check in kiosk. we finally took off around 6 p.m. Georgia time, and arrived in Lima, Peru at 11:30 p.m., one hour behind. the group bonded quickly from the get-go, with adventures in the Lima airport throughout the night, learning spanish from one of the Peruvian missionaries. it is fascinating. we even randomly met a missionary on the flight who was en route to the Amazon to get back to his orphanage!! Intense crazy awesome convos!

finally, around 5 am, we took shuttles through the city of Lima (which seems to never sleep) and arrived at our bus station. after waiting (more like power nap shifts) for an hour and 45 minutes, we finally boarded the BEST charter bus that we had EVER been on...for less than US $20!!! front row on the 2nd floor of the double decker for the 8 hour bus ride through the Andes Mountains (and over a pass at 16,000 feet) landed us in Huancayo around 3:45 p.m. Sweet to then see the gringo (latin american slang term for north americans) missionaries awaiting our arrival!! the wesley usually takes a group to this base in huancayo every spring or summer (their autumn- it got dark at 6 p.m. Peru time). we have been getting settled in and resting from our long travel days this evening, and now off to bed soon!

so rest assured that everyone here is safe and sound with the missionaries, and excited about the days ahead! it is a little chilly at night though...wearing my toboggan typing this... .